'Scientist' in Congress saying evolution is from "Pit of Hell"

Jump to Last Post 1-8 of 8 discussions (33 posts)
  1. Stacie L profile image82
    Stacie Lposted 12 years ago

    By Alan Boyle

    U.S. Rep. Paul Broun's view that the theories of evolution and the big bang are "lies straight from the pit of Hell" is getting more exposure than he might have expected, thanks to a video that was made at a church-sponsored banquet in Georgia and distributed by a progressive political watchdog group.

    The Georgia Republican is already well-known as an outspoken conservative Christian, due in part to his unsuccessful campaign to have 2010 declared "the Year of the Bible." But the latest comments have taken on an extra dab of controversy because Broun, a medical doctor, calls himself a scientist in the video and chairs the House Science Committee's panel on investigations and oversight.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl … ikEWuBrkHc

    read more
    http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012 … -hell?lite
    Evolution is not recognized by this man -a representative in congress. I guess he is entitled to his private opinions

    1. Chip6 profile image59
      Chip6posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Well, it is from the "Pit of Hell", in the sense that the theory of evolution is one of the most complicated belief systems ever invented by man.

      1. Paul Wingert profile image61
        Paul Wingertposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Yes, they use big, scary words like "biology" and "DNA". It's not so complicated once you pass beyond 7th grade.

        1. Chip6 profile image59
          Chip6posted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Do you teach that bullshit in 7th grade? lol Quit Samaritan, you can't hang, go troll a whinne Christian lol

          Once you pass beyond a certain age, brother Charley, you actually learn how much bullshit that theory actually is. lol

        2. profile image0
          Justsilvieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Who voted these people in?

          1. Paul Wingert profile image61
            Paul Wingertposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            By a population of poorly educated, brainwashed bible thumpers. That how thoses idiots got voted in.

            1. Chip6 profile image59
              Chip6posted 12 years agoin reply to this

              Instead they should've taken you in, Samaritan lol

    2. profile image0
      Sooner28posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It's scary he is chairing a committee; however, our democracy never claimed it would ensure that idiots would be kept out of government.  It only posits that  the population will be well represented.  The question is: is he representing his population?

      1. Chip6 profile image59
        Chip6posted 12 years agoin reply to this

        He indeed does represent. lol

        National Christian Populations: US - 246,780,000 (79.5% of the Population)
        http://christianity.about.com/od/denomi … ntoday.htm

        1. profile image0
          Sooner28posted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Precisely.  Voters who believe in preliterate balderdash are not likely to elect a representative that will promote critical thinking and scientific advancement.

          1. Chip6 profile image59
            Chip6posted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Right on! They will learn, sooner or later. Let them be as they are. Why bother? lol

            1. profile image0
              Sooner28posted 12 years agoin reply to this

              Let them be?  I guess that strategy is how we should treat racists and homophobes also.  Being filled to the brim with untruths must be combated in the realm of ideas, and we cannot simply hope that attrition wins the day.

              Public relations campaigns, public debates, and books should/are written about this topic. 

              This is a weakness of democracy though, that there is nothing that can be done without changing people's hearts and minds.

  2. A Troubled Man profile image58
    A Troubled Manposted 12 years ago

    Wow!

  3. Stacie L profile image82
    Stacie Lposted 12 years ago

    A medical doctor is referring to himself as a scientist...now that's a stretch. he is in a position of authority and abusing it. yes?

    1. profile image0
      Sooner28posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      His training in his human anatomy and the effects of drugs on it, not in the history of the human species.  His authority doesn't magically transfer over.

      But even if being a medical doctor qualified one to speak authoritatively about evolution, this guy would still be wrong.

    2. oz-vitez profile image60
      oz-vitezposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      You do realize that Darwin first studied to be a doctor, right? Or was it his training as a naturalist or geologist that makes him qualified (in your opinion) to have studied and written about the theory of evolution?

      1. profile image0
        Sooner28posted 12 years agoin reply to this

        I didn't say the doctor was unqualified based on any other aspect of his training, just based on him being a physician.  Why do you always erect straw man arguments?   He could have studied outside of being an M.D., and have valid criticisms of evolution, but it's unlikely.

        Most religious folk tend to do that though, and that's why the scientific community looks upon their "criticisms" of evolution with such disdain.   I'm no longer surprised when anti-intellectualism is touted as a virtue.

        1. oz-vitez profile image60
          oz-vitezposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          I wasn't replying to you, Okie. I was asking a question to Stacie; as I have proven with you before, your inability to read and discuss issues in a forum setting is piss-poor. Go have fun with your straw man somewhere else.

          1. profile image0
            Sooner28posted 12 years agoin reply to this

            You're right, and I apologize for my mistake.

            My response still holds though, since your objection could have applied to either one of us tongue.

  4. Healthy Pursuits profile image85
    Healthy Pursuitsposted 12 years ago

    This stale, paranoid, mentally lazy throwback is allowed to sit on the House Science Committee's panel on investigations and oversight?! When is this madness ever going to end? Sometimes I think we'll never get past the Scopes monkey trial and pre-WWII fundamentalist mind sets - and we won't as long as we accept these people in positions of responsibility.

    1. Chip6 profile image59
      Chip6posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      You're free to save your country, and your world, dear Samaritan. Quit attacking invisible people here, and do some real work. Talk is cheap. Make a difference. Be as hard as stone lol

      1. Healthy Pursuits profile image85
        Healthy Pursuitsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Thank you for your wise words, oh sock puppet. hmm

    2. Paul Wingert profile image61
      Paul Wingertposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      @Healthy Pursuits-Unfortunately this is going to be a long process especially in the bible belt states where education rates at the bottom of the pile and there's practaclly one church for everty 10 people.

      1. Healthy Pursuits profile image85
        Healthy Pursuitsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        So true. I keep hope alive. Though in the present environment, it's definitely a challenge.

  5. Paul Wingert profile image61
    Paul Wingertposted 12 years ago

    http://s1.hubimg.com/u/7245504_f248.jpg

    1. oz-vitez profile image60
      oz-vitezposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Peer review only determines a paper's worthiness to be published; it has nothing to do with measuring the validity of the paper's content. Additionally, a new study - and most likely peer-reviewed article, for what its worth - indicates high levels of fraud in retracted papers. In short, peer review is not some panacea for your argument, though it might sound good.

      Read Abstract:
      http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/09/27/1212247109

  6. Doc Snow profile image82
    Doc Snowposted 12 years ago

    "Worthiness to be published" has a lot to do with "validity of content."  And retractions are still quite rare.

    It's also worth mentioning that the study you reference was limited to bio-medical research, arguably the most commercialized field of research.

  7. profile image0
    huckelburyposted 12 years ago

    The scary part of all this is the position Houn holds: chair of a House Science Committee. If this is representative government in action, no wonder Plato placed democracy down the list of preferred forms of social control. Not to worry, Doc. The naysayers are like autumn's leaves. The flare up briefly then fall into Nature's compost heap.

    1. Doc Snow profile image82
      Doc Snowposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Maybe so, huckelbury.  But I hear Broun is running unopposed, so we're stuck with him for four more years.  Besides, I live in Georgia, so he's mildly embarrassing to me on that account.

      1. Paul Wingert profile image61
        Paul Wingertposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Are there any Democrats in Georgia? At least boot this clown off the chair of House Science Comittee. A sock puppet would be more acceptable!

        1. Doc Snow profile image82
          Doc Snowposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Oh, sure, there are Democrats in Georgia.  Even in the Georgia Congressional delegation.  About 40-45% of the population votes Democrat, IIRC.

          As to booting Congressman Broun, if it were up to me it would have happened already.  I don't mind his religion per se, but we don't need legislators who are not in good touch with scientific realities.  This world is what it is, not what it was thought to be in ancient Judea--though Heaven may be another story.

  8. Cuchullain profile image59
    Cuchullainposted 12 years ago

    I can only imagine that , hes on the Science Comittee just to "manage" and oppose it.

    1. Doc Snow profile image82
      Doc Snowposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I suspect you are correct.

 
working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)